Missing Man

We were to gather at a Nijenrodean brother's home for dinner in a week. . .but the call came that our dear Jack was in the hospital in California with breathing trouble.  We logged onto Caring Bridge and watched Myra's beautiful, but angst ridden updates.  When the unthinkable happened, it was hard to take in.  How could this be?  He was bigger than life.  But a date was set for a Celebration of Life in Santa Barbara where part of his family resides.  So the three Nijenrode brothers and their wives boarded a plane with heavy hearts and checked into the Villa Rosa hotel.  We met family and friends at a barbeque Friday night at brother David's lovely home.  The next evening we met on the beach to the music of a steel drum, dressed in Hawaiian shirts and our heads and hearts full of memories of our time spent with a great guy.    

He would have been so pleased with the laughter and emotion from everyone in attendance on the beach that night of the full moon. . .but he would have been most pleased and proud watching his lovely wife taking care of business, watching over the day to make sure it went well and in the quiet moments, the video moments, the paddle out to scatter his ashes and the flight overhead, her eyes and her heart filled with the painful loss and she sweetly saluted to the sky.  We have no doubt she will carry her Prince with her throughout the rest of her life. 

And so we will meet in August, 2013 for a Nijenrode reunion. . .but for the first time it will feel a bit "off". . .until we close our eyes and remember the spirit of the missing man. . .and we will smile. . .because he is, in spirit, right there with us.